Method of and means for forming pipe t&#39;s



a Jan. 3, 1933. J. H. TAYLOR METHOD OF AND MEANS FOR FORMING PIPE T's Filed June 20, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet fave/2587 Jae/7265* Hal! Zylon Jan. 3, 1933. .1. H. TAYLOR 1,892,712

METHOD OF AND MEANS FOR FORMING PIPE T'S Filed June 20, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 \&

fave/afar ma -W0 Jan. 3, 1933. J. H. TAYLOR METHOD OF AND MEANS FOR FORMING PIPE T'S Filed June 20. 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 I 01/6/2137 @7726? Hall Zgylor amj Patented Jan. 3, 1933 JAMES HALL TAYLOR, F OAK'PABK, ILLINOIS IETHOD OF AND MEANS FOR FORMING PIPE UPS 7 Application filed June 20,

My invention relates to the manufacture of wrought metal pipe Ts and contemplates a new and improved method and new and improved apparatus for forming the same.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Figures'l and 2 show the blank, in the form of straight tubing, from which the T is made;

Figures 3and 4 illustrate the first re-shap-.

ing of the blank;

Figure-5 is a vertical sectional view of part of the die mechanism, the blank being shown therein in dotted lines;

Fi e 6 is a view similar to Figure 5 showing t e die mechanism of Figure 5 in different position and showing further parts of the die mechanism;

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 6 showmg the first action of this die mechanism;

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken on the plane of the line 8-8 of Figure 7 and looking in the direction indicated by the arrows;

Figure 9 shows the next action of the die mechanism;

Figures 10 and 11 are detailed .views of the die mechanism;

Figure 12 illustrates the finished T; and Figure 13 shows -a modification. Straight stock tubing of wrought metal is cut into short lengths to provide the blanks from which the T is formed. Throughout the figures, the blank, in its original and successive forms to final product, is indicated by the reference character a. Figure 1 is an end view, and Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view, of the blank in its original form.

By means of. suitable die and drilling or punching mechanism, the blank may be first 4o re-formed as shown in Figures '3 and 4.

Figure 3-represents the uniform cross section of the blank at this stage, the lower semicylindrical portion a being of a radius equal to that of the trunk of the ultimate T and the axis of this semi-cylindrical portion lying at '0. At the top or opposite side, as shown in Figure 4, the blank is provided centraliy with @an aperture 0. Since the axis 0 is the axis of the trunk of the ultimate T, it will be observed that the blank, above the axis 0, pro- .bottom of the slot 23 is slightly chamfered 1930. Serial No. 462,514.

vides the material for the formation of the branch of the T.

I shall now describe the die mechanism of my invention, first by reference to Figures 5,

6, s, 10 and 11.

The lower die 14 is in the form of a straight trough, shouldered at 14a, formed to accord with the outside surface of the portion a of the blank. Mandrel dies 15 and 15a are mounted for horizontal movement into and out of the blank when disposed in the die 14, the axis of these mandrel dies coinciding with the axis 0 so that, when they are inserted in the blanklying in the die 1d, the lower portion a of the blank will be firmly engaged between them and the lower die, as clearly shown in Figure 8.

The mandrel die 15 is provided at its top. with a cylindrical recess 16 on an axis at right angles to the axis 0 and coincident with the axis of the aperture (1 in the blank when the blank is positioned in the die 14. This vertical axis 12-4) is the axis of the branch of the ultimate T. P

A cylindrical die 17, which has its upper circular edge rounded, as shown, fits in the recess 16 and is removable therefrom lipwardly, this removable die being of such height as to protrude beyond the top of the die 15. The removable die 17 is provided 89 with a key slot 18 in which a key 19, carried by the die 15, engages, this arrangement insuring the angular position of the die 17 rela-' tive to the die 15 but permittitng the vertical removal which has been referred to. The bottom of the removable die 17 is inclined, as indicated at 20, for cooperation with the correspondingly inclined side 21 of a wedge 22 carried on the free end of the mandrel die 1511, this wedge being adapted to enter the recess 16, under the die 17, by way of the slot 23 in the free end of the die 15. The bottom of the recess 16 is horizontal to correspond with the horizontal bottom of the wedge 22 and the to obviate the possibility of collision between the. front of the wedge and the free end of the die 15 when the die 15a is moved into the blank. V r 7 10 As shown in Figure 6, each of the dies 15 and 15a carriesa saddle 24 mounted thereon for horizontal movement, these saddles being guided and limited in their movement by means of the dowels 25, 25 mounted in the 5 dies 15 and 15a and extending into slots 26,

26 in the under sides of the saddles. The saddles 24, 24 are symmetrically alike, but reversed in position to present the opposed shoulders 27, 27 upon which the top side of the blank may rest, the saddles being urged inwardly, by spring or hydraulic pressure, as indicated by the arrows 28, 28.

The upper external die 29 is in the form of a straddling ring die, as will be clear from Figures 5, 6 and '8 and its axis is coincident with the axis *vo. Its movement is toward and away from the dies 14, 15, 15a and 17 and it is so proportioned as to surround the protruding die 17 and straddle the dies 15, 15a, coming down substantially to meet the die 14, as illustrated in Figure 8. On each side, the die 29 is provided with an ear 30 having a cam surface 31 adapted to engage a roller 32 mounted upon the adjacent saddle 24. The descent of the die 29, by engagement between these cam surfaces and these rollers effects the outward movement of the saddles 24, 24, against their normal tendency, maintaining a predetermined spaced relationship between the die 29 and the inclined surfaces 33, 33 on'the saddles 24, 24.

The above is a description of the precise a paratus which I have devised, but it will e apparent to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications might be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, so far as apparatus is concerned, and without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention from the standpoint of the method which will now be described.

The initial re-forming of the straight tubular blank has already been referred to. The blank, as re-formed to Figures 3 and 4, is placed in the die mechanism as illustrated in dotted lines in Figure 5. The die 15 ma be either movableor stationary, as desire and the blank is placedin the die 14 either with both dies 15 and 15m withdrawn, or with the former in inserted position. The other die is then moved up into engagement with the first die, as illustrated inFigure 6. This brings the saddles 24, 24 in position to hold the top side of the blank, as shown, and also effects the raising of the die 17 by'the insertion of the wedge 22.. Thus far, as described, there has been no action of this die mechanism upon the form of the blank, the die 17 being initially in its lower position to facilitate introduction of the blank and being raised simply to bring it to working position. But,if desired, the die-17 and wedge 22 may be so made that theformer will be raised to form a protuberance in the side of the blank 95 in partial formation of the ultimate branch.

The die 29 is in the position shown in Figure 5 when the blank is introduced, and in Figure 6 it is shown descended to just the'point of contact with the rollers 32 and with the top side of the blank.

The first action of this die mechanism is that illustrated in Figure 7 In this action the die 29 comes down to surround the die 17 and to embrace the upper portions of the dies 15 and 15a. The opening a, in the blank, coaxial with'the die 17, is of considerably lesser diameter than that of the die 17 and the descending action of the die 29 forms the upper portion of the blank over the die 17 and around the upper portion of the dies 15, 15a.

As previously pointed out, that portion of the blank above the axis 0 provides ample metal for the formation of the branch of the T and it is that portion of the blank which is formed over the die 17, the metal around the die 17 being upset and reduced to the cylindrical form and diameter of the dies 15, 15a, to complete the formation of the trunk zOf the T. In this descending action of the die 29 the ends of the blank are flared as shown in F i re 7.

The top of the die 17 is provided with the screwthreaded socket 34. After the die 29 has descended to the position'shown in Figure 7, a lifting device having a bolt 35, for threading into the socket 34, is applied to lift the die 17 out of the recess'16 upwardly on the axis o-4) through the die 29. This action is shown in Figure 9 and it will be clear that-it results in the formation of the branch 'of the T at right angles to the axis of the trunk. From the shape of the blank shown in Figure 7, to that shown in Figure 9, theaction is a stripping action between the die 17 and the ring portion of the I die 29.

The die mechanism described has now done its Work on the blank. The dies 17 and 29 are lifted sufliciently to clear the blank and the die 15 is withdrawn. The product a may then be removed, most conveniently by withdrawing the die 15, the part a being stripped off the die 15 by the shoulder 14a. The

flared ends of the blank may then be cut off,

as indicated by the dotted lines a, a. of Figure 9, and the top portion of the branch of the T may be cut off along the line b", resulting in the product shown in Figure 12, which maythen be put to any further finishing which may be desired.

Figure 13 illustrates an alternative mecha-- and 15a in different radial, or substantially radial, directions.

I claim 1. The method of making a pipe T from a tubular blank, which comprises first re-forming less than half the cross-section of said blank to one side of the trunk of the T, and then forming the remainder of said blank over a T-shaped die to form the other side of the trunk and the branch of the T.

2. The method of making a pipe T from a tubularblank, which comprlses gripping less than halfthe cross-section of said blank between a cylindrical mandrel and a troughshaped die, and then forming the remainder of said blank over the other side of said mandrel and a transversely protruding cylindrical die member:

3. The method of making a pipe T from a tubular blank, which comprises gripping less than half the cross-section of said blank between a cylindrical mandrel and a troughsha d die, then forming the remainder of sai blank overthe other side of said mandrel and a removable transversely protruding cylindrical die member, and then withdrawing said cylindrical die member.

4; In die mechanism for forming pipe Ts, two co-axial mandrel dies movable toward and away from each other, supporting saddles mounted upon said dies for holding a tubular blank against the opposite sides thereof, and external dies cooperating with the. mandrel dies for shaping a tubularblank thereover.

5. In die mechanism for forming pipe Ts two'co-axial mandrel dies movable toward andaway from each other, saddles mounted upon'said mandrel dies for movement longitudinally thereof, a co-operatin external die, and means for moving said sa dles when said external die is moved toward said mandrel dies.

6. In die mechanism for forming pipe Ts, two co-axial mandrel dies movable toward and away from each other, saddles mounted upon said mandrel dies for movement longitudinally thereof, means tending to move said saddles toward each other, a co-operating external die, and means for moving said saddles away from each other when said external die is moved toward said mandrel dies.

7. In die mechanism for forming pipe Ts, a cylindrical internal die, a trough-shaped external die cooperatingwith a part'of said internal die, an auxiliary cylindrical die car ried by and removable from said internal die and a plurality of external dies co-operating with .the other part of said internal dieeand approaching the same from different dirctions.

8. The method of making a. pipe T, which comprises forming the same from a tubular blank of a circumference greater than the air cumference of the trunk of the ultimate T by simultaneously reducing the end portio of the blank to the circumference of the trunk of the T over an internal die structure and shapin the intermediate portion of one side of the lank over a radially projecting auxiliary internal die thereby forming a protrusion at said portion of the blank, and forming the protrusion to final size and shape to provide the branch of'the T.

9. The method of making a pipe T, which comprises disposing a tubular blank of a circumference greater than the circumference of the trunk of the ultimateT over a T-shaped die structure, and simultaneously reduciiig the end portions of the blank about the die structure to form the trunk of the T and shaping) the intermediate portion of one side 11. The method of making a pipe T from a tubular blank of a circumference greater than the'circumference of the trunk of the ultimate T, which comprises simultaneously subjecting the end portions of the blank to external radial pressureand a portion of one side of the blank intermediate said' end portions to internal radial pressure and thereby reducin the end portions to the circumference of t e trunk of the T and simultaneously producing a protrusion intermediate the end portions, and forming the protrusion to final size and shape to provide the branch of the T.

12. The method of making a pipe T, which comprises forming the same from a tubular blank of a circumference greater than the circumference of the trunk of the ultimate T by simultaneously subjecting the end portions of the blank to external radial pressiire and a portion of one side of the blank intermediate said end portions to positive internal radial pressure, thereby reducing the end portions of the blank and simultaneously producing a protrusion intermediate the end portions and by the internal pressure applied to the intermediate portion of the blank.

13. In die mechanism for forming pipe Ts,

a cylindrical internal die, a trough-shaped external die cooperating with a part of said cylindrical internal die, an auxiliary internal die of circular cross section-removably retained and carried by said cylindrical internal die, an external ring and straddling die cooperating with said auxiliary internal die and the other part of said cylindrical internal die, and external means attachable to said auxiliary internal die for pulling the same away frbm the said cylindrical internal die through said ring and straddling die.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 13th day of June, 1930. JAMES HALL TAYLOR. 

